Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>

Fumonisins are polyketide-derived mycotoxins posing significant health threats to humans and animals. Among these, fumonisin B<sub>1</sub> (FB<sub>1</sub>) is the most prevalent mycotoxin, primarily produced by <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>, especially in maize...

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Main Authors: Liuqing Wang, Wenlei Zhai, Dongmei Jiang, Nan Jiang, Jiaqi Yan, Haoyun Jiang, Meng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/4/313
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author Liuqing Wang
Wenlei Zhai
Dongmei Jiang
Nan Jiang
Jiaqi Yan
Haoyun Jiang
Meng Wang
author_facet Liuqing Wang
Wenlei Zhai
Dongmei Jiang
Nan Jiang
Jiaqi Yan
Haoyun Jiang
Meng Wang
author_sort Liuqing Wang
collection DOAJ
description Fumonisins are polyketide-derived mycotoxins posing significant health threats to humans and animals. Among these, fumonisin B<sub>1</sub> (FB<sub>1</sub>) is the most prevalent mycotoxin, primarily produced by <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>, especially in maize and its derived products. Tangeretin, a polymethoxyflavonoid, has been identified as having potential medicinal properties, particularly as an antioxidant. To evaluate the antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic properties of tangeretin and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its inhibitory effects, assessments of fungal growth, FB<sub>1</sub> production, conidial germination, and cellulase activity, antioxidant capacity and enzyme activities, transcriptomic analysis and gene deletion experiments were conducted. Consequently, tangeretin significantly curtailed fungal growth and FB<sub>1</sub> production and provided protection against pathogenic infection on corn. It affected genes associated with fungal growth, conidial development, and antioxidant response. Furthermore, tangeretin interfered with the supply of biosynthetic substrate necessary for fumonisin production, particularly impacting pathways involved in alanine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and sphingolipid metabolism. Notably, tangeretin downregulated four biosynthetic genes (<i>Fum2</i>, <i>Fum3</i>, <i>Fum10</i> and <i>Fum11</i>) that are involved in the final steps of fumonisin formation. It likely disrupted the MAPK signaling pathway and targeted a putative NmrA- and HSCARG-like protein Fv_Tan1, which was identified as having positive effects on fungal growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis. This study presents a promising approach for controlling fumonisin contamination in agricultural settings.
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spelling doaj-art-a3d63c42f40d44b08a21b2c8e2fd24492025-08-20T02:18:03ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-04-0111431310.3390/jof11040313Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>Liuqing Wang0Wenlei Zhai1Dongmei Jiang2Nan Jiang3Jiaqi Yan4Haoyun Jiang5Meng Wang6Institute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaInstitute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaInstitute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaInstitute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaInstitute of Quality Standard and Testing Technology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, No. 9 Middle Road of Shuguanghuayuan, Haidian District, Beijing 100097, ChinaFumonisins are polyketide-derived mycotoxins posing significant health threats to humans and animals. Among these, fumonisin B<sub>1</sub> (FB<sub>1</sub>) is the most prevalent mycotoxin, primarily produced by <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>, especially in maize and its derived products. Tangeretin, a polymethoxyflavonoid, has been identified as having potential medicinal properties, particularly as an antioxidant. To evaluate the antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic properties of tangeretin and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its inhibitory effects, assessments of fungal growth, FB<sub>1</sub> production, conidial germination, and cellulase activity, antioxidant capacity and enzyme activities, transcriptomic analysis and gene deletion experiments were conducted. Consequently, tangeretin significantly curtailed fungal growth and FB<sub>1</sub> production and provided protection against pathogenic infection on corn. It affected genes associated with fungal growth, conidial development, and antioxidant response. Furthermore, tangeretin interfered with the supply of biosynthetic substrate necessary for fumonisin production, particularly impacting pathways involved in alanine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and sphingolipid metabolism. Notably, tangeretin downregulated four biosynthetic genes (<i>Fum2</i>, <i>Fum3</i>, <i>Fum10</i> and <i>Fum11</i>) that are involved in the final steps of fumonisin formation. It likely disrupted the MAPK signaling pathway and targeted a putative NmrA- and HSCARG-like protein Fv_Tan1, which was identified as having positive effects on fungal growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis. This study presents a promising approach for controlling fumonisin contamination in agricultural settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/4/313fumonisinmycotoxin<i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>tangeretinflavonoid
spellingShingle Liuqing Wang
Wenlei Zhai
Dongmei Jiang
Nan Jiang
Jiaqi Yan
Haoyun Jiang
Meng Wang
Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
Journal of Fungi
fumonisin
mycotoxin
<i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
tangeretin
flavonoid
title Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
title_full Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
title_fullStr Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
title_full_unstemmed Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
title_short Tangeretin Suppresses Fumonisin Production by Modulating an NmrA- and HSCARG-like Protein in <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
title_sort tangeretin suppresses fumonisin production by modulating an nmra and hscarg like protein in i fusarium verticillioides i
topic fumonisin
mycotoxin
<i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>
tangeretin
flavonoid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/4/313
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